A NEW CALL TO RESIST ILLEGAL WAR AND ILLEGITIMATE AUTHORITY
By Courage to Resist. July 3, 2014
Courage to Resist calls on all U.S. military personnel to resist any
effort to pursue a new military attack on Iraq via troops, bombs, drones
or any other means. In keeping with our Mission Statement, we affirm
that, just as there was never any legitimate reason for the United
States to send military forces to Iraq in the past, there is not now any
reason for the United States to participate militarily in the affairs
of the people of Iraq. The refugees being created every day by the wars
in Iraq need humanitarian aid. The solution to the problems in Iraq
lies in the nations and parties involved talking it out.
The U.S. destroyed Iraq. Sending U.S. troops and/or weapons again
cannot improve the situation. It can only cause more unnecessary death
and destruction. Troops, bullets, bombs, mines, and other weapons will
continue to kill, maim, and breed hatred in the people of Iraq. More
warfare cannot do anything positive for the men, women, and children of
Iraq.
"Today the US is sending a few hundred military advisers, backed by
an additional group of mercenaries, to prop up the Iraqi regime. Some of
these individuals may well be the last US service members to die for
the Iraq War lie, to paraphrase John Kerry regarding the end of the
Vietnam War. What happens if the neo cons have their way and the US
“surges” back into Iraq to save the al-Maliki government? Courage to
Resist wants service members to know that they have options, including
doing the right thing--resistance."
-Jeff Paterson
Courage to Resist
Project Director
July 3, 2014 |
Every U.S. service person has a conscience. Every member of every
branch of the U.S. military service is bound to obey that conscience,
and the oath s/he took to defend the Constitution of the United States
of America. The Constitution binds the U.S. to honor its international
agreements. All U.S. presidents in this century have broken the law of
the land as well as international laws and treaties with the illegal use
of war powers. Sending U.S. troops to Iraq was, and would be again, in
violation of numerous international laws and treaties as well as a
violation of U.S. war-making powers. And it certainly would not be in
defense of the United States. U.S. citizens do not support a return of
the U.S. military to Iraq.
Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airperson, you are strong enough to resist
illegal and immoral war. We’d be honored to support your refusal to
deploy to Iraq. U.S. troops are not the cops of the world. There is no
legitimate mission for you or any U.S. service members in Iraq. Don’t
be fooled by more lies from the President, the Congress, the media or
anyone else.
Courage to Resist exists to support service members who resist
illegal and immoral war and occupation. Since 2006, Courage to Resist
has provided moral and material support to GI objectors, including legal
aid when needed.
Military service members we have had the honor of collaborating with include:
- Army Lt. Ehren Watada, the first military officer to articulate the
illegal nature of the Iraq War and refuse orders to deploy, Marine L/Cpl
Stephen Funk, the first military service member to publicly refuse to
deploy, and scores of service members who have formally applied for
discharge as Conscientious Objectors.
- Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airpersons who have taken refuge in
Canada, and have publicly fought for the right to remain there. We’ve
also supported those who have returned to the U.S. to face U.S. military
injustice.
- Nearly 50 service members who have required assistance with legal
fees, and related support, for fighting military court-martials for
having gone AWOL/UA.
- Hundreds of Individual Ready Reservists (IRR) who have refused involuntary activations.
Refuse illegitimate authority. Have the Courage to Resist illegal war. We support the troops who refuse to fight!
Mission Statement
COURAGE TO RESIST is a group of concerned community members, veterans and military families that
supports military objectors to illegal war and occupation and the
policies of empire. Our People Power strategy weakens the pillars that
maintain war and occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere by
supporting GI resistance, counter-recruitment and draft resistance,
which cuts off the supply of troops. We are autonomous from and
independent of any political organization, party or group. |